Chairwoman Alexander and other members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Wes Rivers, and I am a Health Policy Analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute. DCFPI engages in research and public education on the fiscal and economic health of the District of Columbia, with a particular emphasis on policies that affect low- and moderate-income residents.
I am here today to testify in support of the District Health Benefit Exchange’s effort to use stakeholder workgroups to inform the numerous complex issues that must be resolved before the DC Exchange starts to operate. I also would like to comment on a few of those key issues, namely the importance of setting rules that result in affordable, high quality health plans on the Exchange, developing a robust system to help consumers navigate the new process, and creating a sustainable model for financing the ongoing operations of the Exchange.
Stakeholder Engagement and Policy Work Group Process
The District Health Benefits Exchange is an opportunity to provide quality and affordable health insurance to District residents and small businesses beginning in 2014. The Exchange’s online portal will provide a transparent, easy to use interface, where consumers can shop and make real apples-to-apples comparisons of available health plans in the District market. The Exchange’s coordinated eligibility and enrollment process will inform residents if they are eligible for premium and cost sharing subsidies or public programs such as Medicaid and Alliance. Through these features, residents and small businesses will have both choice and affordability when selecting an insurance option.
For the Exchange to begin enrollment this October, several critical decisions must be made in a quick time frame. DCFPI fully supports the Exchange Authority’s strategy in forming temporary, broad-based stakeholder work groups to advise the Exchange staff and board on several policy questions within the coming months. This approach draws on the deep experience and expertise of consumers, providers, issuers, brokers, agents, consumer advocates, and community-based organizations, and formulates policy recommendations based on consensus found between these groups. Of course, all recommendations from the workgroups are advisory, with final decisions left to the Exchange board.
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